Submerged compressed-air power plant



G. W. JOHNSTON.

SUBMERGED COMPRESSED AIR POWER PLANT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1919.

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. APPLICATION flLED MAY 1. i919.

' 1,360,222. Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

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PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE w. JOHNSTON, onsr. JosErH, MISSOURI.

SUIBMERGED COMPRESSED-AIR POWER PLANT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23,1920.

Application filed May'l, 1919. Serial No. 294,037.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan, State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Submerged Compressed-Air Power Plants, of which the following is a full and exact specification.

The present invention relates to sub merged power plants, and aims to provide an improved construction of machine adapted to be actuated by the water movements or currents in either natural or artificial streams or other bodies of water, the primary object of the invention being to devise a machine designed to operate in water-submerged relation for air-compressing purposes, the compressed air being conducted away and stored for any desired use.

Accordingly one of the objects of the in vention is to provide an improved air-compressing apparatus arranged as a combined submerged water wheel and air-compressing unit incorporated as a part of the water wheel structure.

It is also sought to devise an improved water wheel construction having a novel type of air-compressing mechanismincorporated therein and operating in an efiicient manner for taking air from the atmosphere, compressing it and forcing the compressed air to a suitable reservoir for storage.

. A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined water wheel and air compressing mechanism of, thecha-racter described in which the air compressing mechanism operates to compress the air in a step-up manner during its course through the machine. i

It is also sought to provide an apparatus of the type indicated. which is adapted for either stationary permanent installation in operative position in water-submerged relation, or for portable use in which the machine may be carried out from the shore to its submerged position and back again as often as use is required for the machine.

With these general objects in view, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical construction for embodying the proposed improvements, after which the novel features therein will be set forth and particularly defined in the appended In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, showing a submerged power apparatus constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the water wheel on a reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional. view showing the hub. portion of the water wheel and the air compressing mechanism incorporated therein;

Fig. 4: is a section taken on the line H of Fig. 3; v r

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section (partly broken away) taken 011 theline 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing a portable construction of apparatus for embodying the improvements. 1

Referring to the said drawings in detail, these illustrate in Fig. 1 the arrangement of the apparatus in water-submerged relation, the line of the water surface being in dicated by the numeral 8, and the bottom or bed of the water course by the numeral 10. A foundation 12is provided in the form-of a frame or.casting having an inner com partment 14. adapted to be filled with concrete material 16 through a pipe 18 from above the water surface and thus affording proper ballast for the foundation, this pipe 18 being conveniently detached from the foundation after said filling operation is completed. The foundation 12 is also formed with, an open bottom conuoartment 20 having connected therewith a pipe22 whereby a vacuum or suction action may be produced within said compartment by, any

suitable -means attached to the upper end of said pipe 22, for the purpose of anchoring the foundation securely in position, after which the pipe 22 may be closed by means of a valve 24 located at any desired point. At any timethat it may be desired to remove the apparatus after being thus anchored, this may be accomplished by first releasing the vacuum action in said compartment 20 and then applying hydraulic pressure through the pipe 22, in conjunction with any suitable type of hoisting means which may be employed for lifting out the apparatu v Mounted on top of the foundation 12 is a combined water power wheel and aircompressing mechanism, the same comprishub portion of the wheel which is adapted to be filled with suitable lubricant through a filling passage 28 provided with a cap 29 (the lubricating mixture being omitted for clearness of illustration of the other parts) said housing being provided with a central cap piece 30 having a cable loop 32 for attachment to the hoisting means above referred to. The housing 26 is provided with a series of radially projecting propelling members each of which comprises a pair of folding blades '34 hinged upon an arm. 86 and so'arranged as to open under the force of the current when moving in the dire ?tion of said current (indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2) and to close on moving against said current, as will be readily understood, the hinged construction ot the blades be ng such as'to prevent the same moving past full open position under the force of the current.

Forming the axis of the power wheel is a fixed casting 88 which is supported upon the upper end of the foundation 12 and held in position by means of a ring 40 threaded on to the lower end of the casting and se cured by screws 42' to thetoundation. The housing 26 is supported upon ball bearings 44 retained in mating grooves in the ring 40 and a ring 46"secured by screws 48 to the bottom of said housing, a protecting band 50 being carried by the ring 46 and overlapping the upper margin of the ring 40. The casting 88 is formed with different sizes of I radially arranged pump cylinders. the drawings showing a cylinder 52 provided with a pair of oppositely moving pistons 54, and two smaller cylinders 56, 58,0'5 equal size and in alinement at right angles to the cylinder 52 and each provided with a piston 57. These cylinders are all provided with water-jackets '60 having a water connection 62 leading down through the foundation 12 and to any suitable source of water supply. An air inlet pipe 64 conducts air from above the water surface to an air receiving chamber 66 in the lower end of the casting 38, whence an inlet valve 68 admits air to the space between the pistons 54 in the cylinder 52, from which space an outlet valve 70 admits'the air as forced out by said pistons 54 into a chamber 72 in the upper end of the casting 38, which is closed by a cap member 74. From the chamber 72 check valves 7 6 control communication with the inner ends ofthe cylinders 56 .and 58, whence outlet valves 7 8 admit the air as forced out by the pistons 57 to the branches of a 'd'is'chargejpipe 82 leading to any suitable form of compressed-air reservoir 84 provided with a pressure gage 86 and valved connections 88 whereby thecompressed air may be conducted off for any desired applications. 'The cylinder pistons are operated by means of a rotatin gear 90 having its hub portion 92 journaled about the lower end of the casting 38 and connected for rotation with the water wheel by means of the screws 48; meshing with the gear 00 is a pair of gear wheels 94 secured to the lower ends of crank shafts 96 mounted in the outer ends of the cylinder 52 and having the crank arms 98 of said shafts connected with the piston rods 100 of the pistons 5i. Also meshing with the gear 90 is a pair of smaller gear wheels 102 secured to the lower ends of crank shafts 104 mounted in the outer ends of the cylinders 56. 58. and having the crank arms 106 of said shafts connected with the piston rods 108 of the pistons 57.

With the construction above described. the water wheel is adapted to be rotated by the action of the water current or movement as will be readily understood. which results in the reciprocation of the pump pistons by means of the deseril'ied gearing connections, thereby drawing the air into the space between the pistons on the outward movement of the latter. and on the inward or approaching movement of said pistons the air is compressed and forced out past the valve 70 into the chamber 72; from there the air is drawn by the outward or separating movement of the pistons 57 into the cylinders 56 and 58 where it is turther compressed by the inward or approaching movement of the pistons 57 and forced out past the valves 78 into the discharge pipe 82 and thence conducted to the storage reservoir. An eiiicient combined strm'ture is thus obtained tor utilizing the force of the water flow to operate the air compressing mechanism and maintaining a. compressedair power supply which may be devoted to any desired purpose.

In Fig. 6 I illustrate an arrangement wherein the power wheel may he removahlv mounted upon a foundation 12 which is set in fixed position at a proper depth in the water an inclined trackway 110 being provided which leads from the shore over suitable supporting members 112 to the top of the foundation 12 for supporting a truck 114 which carries the power wheel and pumping mechanism in horizontal position. A cable 116 is used for letting the truck down the inclined trackway and the latter is provided with upward extensions 118 tor assisting in holding the power wheel in place at the end of the trackway.

In Fig. 1 the propelling members of the wheel are illustrated as arranged in staggered relation, as to the radial positions of the upper and lower members of the series. this being for the purpose of lessening the likelihood of the movement of the wheel being stalled or blanketed by the folding of the propeller blades as sometimes occurs where the members are arranged exactly in lltl pairs, as shown in Fig. 6; this relative radial arrangement of the propeller members may of course be varied to any desired extent.

It is thus apparent that I have provided a simple and efficient construction for carrying out the desired objects of the invention, and maintaining a practical and economical source of power supply at a minimum of cost, The apparatus may be set up and operated in any suitable body of water or stream where suflicient force due to water currents is available for driving the wheel, and the tidal movements of the sea may also be utilized for its operation. Where used in navigable streams, the apparatus has the advantage in that the location chosen for 10- eating the same may be such as to in no way interfere with the movement of vessels, inasmuch as the water currents are of course not confined to the course of the vessels.

While I have illustrated a practical form of construction for embodying the proposed improvements, I desire to reserve the right to make such formal chan es or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent 1s:

1. A submerged power plant apparatus comprising a Water power wheel provided with propelling members adapted to be operated by the water current, and air-compressing means mounted within said wheel and comprising a plurality of pump cylinders having air inlet and outlet connection and provided with operating connections actuated by the movement of the wheel and acting independently and successively to com press the air in two stages as it passes through the apparatus.

2. A submerged power plant apparatus comprising a water power wheel provided with propelling members adapted to be oper ated by the water current, and air-compress ing means mounted within said wheel and comprising a plurality of pump cylinders provided with operating connections actuated by" the movement of the wheel, one of said cylinders acting to initially compress the air and the remaining cylinders being arranged to receive the initially compressed air and recompress and dischargesaid air at a higher pressure.

3. A submerged power plant apparatus comprising a water power wheel provided with propelling members adapted to be operated by the water current, and air-compressing means mounted within said wheel and comprising a plurality of pump cylinders arranged in radial relation to the axis of the wheel, a gear mounted coaxially with said wheel and rotating in unison therewith, and a series of gears mounted on fixed axes and meshing with said first gear, said series of gears being provided with operative connections with said pump cylinders.

4. A submerged power plant apparatus comprising a water power wheel provided with propelling members adapted to be operated by the water current, and air-compressing means mounted within said wheel and comprising a plurality of pump cylinders arranged radially about the aXis of the wheel and provided with valved communications adapted to permit successive compression of the air by said cylinders, a gear mounted ooaxially with said wheel and rotating in uniactuated by the movement of the wheel and. acting independently and successively to compress the air in two stages as it passes throiwh. the apparatus.

6. submerged power plant apparatus comprising a water power wheel provided with propelling members adapted to be operated by the water current, the hub portion of said wheel comprising a rotating housing adapted to contain a lubricating mixture, and air-compressing means comprising a plurality of pump cylinders inclosed by said housing and provided with operating gearing also inclosed by the housing and adapted to be actuated. by the movement of said wheel.

7. A submerged power plant apparatus comprising a foundation adapted to be supported upon the bed of the water course and provided with an inclined trackway extending from said foundation to a point above the water surface, a water power wheel provided with a truck adapted to traverse said trackway and having a cable for trailing said truck into and out of position over said foundation, and air-compressing means mounted within said wheel and provided with operating connections actuated by the movement of the wheel.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature:

GEORGE W. JOHNSTON.

inders having air inlet and outlet connection and provlded wlth operatmg connections 

